A good example is the independent, almost simultaneous development of quantum electrodynamics by Richard Feynman, Julian Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga. They all three had very different approaches, and Tomonaga in particular was working in wartime Japan, completely cut off from the others. Yet Freeman Dyson was able to prove that the theories each had provided for the quantum behavior of electrons and photons were not only all equally good at describing nature, but were all mathematically equivalent — that is, the same physics, seen from different points of view. Whether we are using thought experiments, antimatter beams, sophisticated instrumentation, or sending spaceships to the outer solar system, Butterworth says the ability for scientists to loosen the constraints of our own point of view is hugely important. 'It is also, I think, closely related to the ability to put ourselves into the place of other people in society and to perceive ourselves as seen by them — to check our privilege, if you like. Imperfect and difficult, but a leap away from a childish self-centeredness and into adulthood.'"

t turns out that an antiparticle going back in time is exactly the same as a regular particle going forward in time.

I thought determining the truth of that is what this experiment is all about.

I am STILL stymied by a question he asked once:

"Why does a mirror reverse left-and-right but not up-and-down?"

It doesn't. It reverses back-and-front.

Hold up a print-out of writing on paper you can see through, so that you can read it. Do so with a mirror beyond the paper, and you'll be able to read the writing (through the back of the paper) just fine.

Your example defeats you nicely. Most scientists of the early 20th century (including Einstein and Eddington) had a strong belief in a basically static universe that was infinite in time, because that was the elegant solution with philosophical appeal. It took the indisputable evidence of the red shift to convince them that there was in fact a big bang which was the beginning of the current order, against their natural inclinations.